The city overlooks Bellingham Bay, which then opens onto the Strait of Georgia, where we find the San Juan Islands and then the Canadian island of Vancouver. We are in the far northwest of the United States, in
, 25 km (15 mi) from the Canadian border. The Canadian city of Vancouver is located 65 km (40 mi) to the northwest. To the east, we find the mountains of the Mount Baker Ski Area.
is not very abundant, though it is very frequent in the cold half of the year.
is frequent: during mild and rainy periods, the wind blows from the strait of Juan de Fuca, while during cold air outbreaks, it blows from the northeast after being channeled into the the Fraser River valley.
city in the whole of the United States, although there's no big difference with Seattle and the other cities of the Puget Sound.
is mild enough, there can sometimes be cold waves, sometimes even in November, with night temperatures going down to -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. For example, the temperature dropped to -18 °C (0 °F) in January 1950, to -15 °C (5 °F) in November 1955 and November 1985, and to -15.5 °C (4 °F) in February 1989.
Snow is quite rare: on average, 16 centimeters (6.5 in) per year. However, a fairly heavy snowfall can occur from time to time.
, daytime temperatures are generally mild or pleasantly warm. However, there may also be hot periods, which last a few days, with highs of 32/33 °C (89/91 °F), and sometimes more. Generally, the heat is less intense than in Seattle, as we are more to the north. However, in July 2009, the temperature reached 36 °C (97 °F). In 2021, the temperature reached 37 °C (99 °F) in late June and 38 °C (100 °F) in August.
The best time to visit Bellingham is summer, especially in July and August, since it is the mildest, driest and sunniest period of the year. June and September are also acceptable months.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.5 °C, with a minimum of
1.1 °C and a maximum of
7.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-7 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.3 °C in January 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14 °C. However, it reached
18.3 °C in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
115 mm, distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 23% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
5.4 °C, with a minimum of
1.4 °C and a maximum of
9.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-5 °C. However, it dropped to
-9.4 °C in February 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14.5 °C. However, it reached
21.7 °C in February 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
7.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.3 °C, with a minimum of
3.1 °C and a maximum of
11.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-7 °C in March 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
17.5 °C. However, it reached
24.4 °C in March 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
9.8 °C, with a minimum of
5.3 °C and a maximum of
14.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-3.3 °C in April 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
28.3 °C in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13 °C, with a minimum of
8.3 °C and a maximum of
17.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.6 °C in May 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
30 °C in May 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
11 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
11 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
June is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.4 °C, with a minimum of
11 °C and a maximum of
19.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.8 °C in June 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
27 °C. However, it reached
31.1 °C in June 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 16 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
July is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.7 °C, with a minimum of
12.8 °C and a maximum of
22.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29.5 °C. However, it reached
36 °C in July 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
17.7 °C, with a minimum of
12.6 °C and a maximum of
22.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in August 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
32.2 °C in August 1993.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
13.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
September is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.9 °C, with a minimum of
9.8 °C and a maximum of
20.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
0.6 °C in September 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26.5 °C. However, it reached
31 °C in September 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
8.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
12.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.6 °C, with a minimum of
6.2 °C and a maximum of
14.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.6 °C in October 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
24.4 °C in October 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
100 mm, distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 80%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
9.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
10.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
6.9 °C, with a minimum of
3.3 °C and a maximum of
10.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-11.1 °C in November 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16.5 °C. However, it reached
22.8 °C in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
130 mm, distributed over 20 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 22% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
12.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
9.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of
4.3 °C, with a minimum of
1.2 °C and a maximum of
7.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-12.2 °C in December 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14 °C. However, it reached
19.4 °C in December 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
110 mm, distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 24% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
13.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
8.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.